Life on the Farm

Many farms were family run operations, often leasing land from European Americans. Other Japanese Americans were able to purchase land using their children's names, who were U.S. citizens. It was quite common for husband, wife, and children to all work in the fields. Some Japanese American families would also hire outside workers such as Filipinos, Mexicans, or Chinese.

"We had some Filipino boys working...(one) was working for us before we had to leave (during the war)... he kept things going for the guy who took over (the farm)."